tures, patience in afflictions, humility in prosperity, and hope amid the pains of death. Such, my Brethren, are some of the gifts of the HOLY SPIRIT of God to Christians.

But we do not say, that all who come to the LORD'S Table shall receive these gifts; as neither do we assert that all who are Baptized shall be saved. Some, though professing members of the Church, are still unworthy members; dead branches of the True Vine, yet still not as yet broken off from it; tares growing in the same field with the wheat; unclean fish in the same net with the clean. But this we do assert, that those who despise Infant Baptism, or, who absent themselves habitually from GOD's Holy Altar, cannot love GOD. And we speak not without authority. Our Blessed SAVIOUR has told us in Sunday's Gospel, "If a man love ME, he will keep My Words, and My FATHER will love him, and WE will come unto him, and make Our abode with him. He that loveth ME not, keepeth not My sayings." Such men may fear GoD, as the unprofitable servant feared his Master, when he hid his talent, without improving it. They cannot love HIM, for, saith our SAVIOUR, "If ye love ME, keep My Commandments." How, then, can those be said to love HIM, who obstinately refuse to keep His commandments? How can they find out the ALMIGHTY by any cunning or crafty device of their own. If God has appointed a way, and GOD's Church has in all ages taught that He has appointed a way, of pouring the knowledge of HIM `into man's heart, by the operation of the HOLY SPIRIT, first given unto us in Baptism, afterwards renewed from time to time as in various ways, so especially and chiefly in the other Holy Sa

1 St. John xiv. 23, 24.

crament of CHRIST'S Body and Blood, Shall man, vain man, who, as we are told in the Book of Job, "is born like a wild ass's colt," think himself wise? seek GOD in His own way-imagine an invisible Church of an elect few, fettered by no ordinances, marked by no outward sign, guided every one by his own heart, stray sheep, turning “every one to his own way"? Surely, my Brethren, we may justly apply to those who do thus estrange themselves from God's own Ordinance, the touching remonstrance of our SAVIOUR, “Why call ye ME LORD, LORD, and do not the things which I say"?3

6

Why then should any in this Christian land, where the True Light shineth, "be tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive "? Or, shall we not rather be subject to "CHRIST, the HEAD of the Church, the SAVIOUR of the Body,' "Who gave to the Apostles or Bishops of His Church, the power to bind and loose, the authority to teach and baptize,' and to be the only channels of His Grace always, even unto the end of the world, promising to be thus always with them. From CHRIST the HEAD of the Church, through the Apostles, down to the present time, the same trust has been committed to the Bishops and Curates of the Church; and doubt not, that the Love of GoD and of CHRIST still rests upon the faithful members of that Church, be they clergy or laity: doubt not that the HOLY SPIRIT of GOD still sanctifieth them in love, "as CHRIST also loved the Church, and gave HIMSELF for

it, that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word, that He might present it to HIMSELF, a glorious Church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish."

My Christian Brethren, let us seriously lay to heart the knowledge of the great and glorious privileges, which we possess in the power of being sound memIbers of CHRIST's Church, and of adding in our own persons to the measure of its holiness. The consideration of the gifts bestowed in Baptism, is most suitable to this season, when, as I have before told you, it was the custom of the primitive Church to administer that Holy Sacrament to all who were prepared for it, and desirous to receive it; they being clothed in white garments to signify their intention of leading a new, innocent, unspotted life, whence probably the name Whit or White Sunday. The chief other time on which Baptism was formerly administered, except in cases of necessity, being at Easter, in memory of CHRIST'S Death and Resurrection, correspondent to which are the two parts of the Christian life represented in Baptism dying unto sin, and rising again unto newness of life. While at Whitsuntide it was in memory of the Apostles being baptized with the HOLY GHOST and with fire, and of their having themselves, at that time, baptized three thousand souls."2 There are other reasons given for the origin of the name, although the above stated derivation seems most probable. this season, therefore, let us stir up and renew that Holy Gift that is within us : let us awake to a more perfect knowledge of GOD, in order that we may love Hıм 2 Wheatley, Sect. xviii. 2.

Eph. v. 25, 26, 27.

3

At

more and more: let us come with humble and penitent hearts to God's Holy Altar, acknowledging the glory, and obeying the commandments, instructions, and impulses of the Eternal TRINITY. On this day let us resolve to be, through grace, better and more obedient sons, "followers of GOD as dear children," not only loving HIM inwardly in our hearts, but letting our light shine before men, that all men may see and know that we love GOD, that we love His Commandments, that we love His House, that we love to be in Communion with HIM in Prayer, and especially more nearly in His Holy Sacrament of the Communion of CHRIST'S Body and Blood; that we love to bring our children to HIм, and teach them to know HIM; that we love to obey the Holy Church which is His Body, and to seek increase of our faith, through the HOLY GHOST which is given unto us, when we are made members of CHRIST'S Body; and finally, that we love His Appearing, "looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the Great GOD and our SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST, Who gave HIMSELF for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto HIMSELF a peculiar people, zealous of good works."""

C. T.

1

Eph. v. 1.

2 Titus ii. 13, 14.

SERMON LIX.

THE FAITHFUL STEWARD.

Ember Bays.

1 COR. IV. 1, 2.

LET A MAN SO ACCOUNT OF US, AS OF THE MINISTERS OF CHRIST, AND STEWARDS OF THE MYSTERIES OF GOD. MOREOVER IT IS REQUIRED IN STEWARDS, THAT A MAN BE

FOUND FAITHFUL.

WHEN a man is entrusted with the care of a large household, it is well to have fixed rules for his guidance, rules settled by proper authority. Some discretion must be allowed, to every person to whom a trust is committed; but the less he is left to his own choice, the better it will be both for him and those who are under his charge. The existence of known and authorized regulations makes it easy to ascertain whether he does his duty or not; and also to meet the complaints of such as may, at any time, be dissatisfied with his conduct, and determine whether or not they are well founded. For the dissatisfaction may often arise, not from any negligent or overbearing conduct on his part,